REGION: Hunter to debate on Oct. 15 only

The Duncan Hunter campaign on Thursday continued to reject calls from hunger-striking opponents Ray Lutz and Michael Benoit for a series of debates before absentee ballots are mailed in early October.

Hunter, R-El Cajon, said he will debate just once, on Oct. 15, at Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego.

Lutz, the Democratic candidate in the 52nd Congressional District that includes portions of North County, said Thursday he is going to continue to press for at least two debates before October. He also said he has no plans to abandon the hunger strike he started Aug. 12.

He and Benoit, a Libertarian candidate, say Hunter is doing a disservice to voters by only agreeing to a single debate 18 days before the Nov. 2 election and long after absentee ballots go out.

Nearly 60 percent of county voters cast absentee ballots in the June primary rather than going to a traditional polling place.

The Lutz-Benoit hunger strike has garnered attention nationwide, and Lutz was interviewed for nearly six minutes Thursday on CNN.